Mouthpiece for a scent-based taste drinking system

Abstract

A mouthpiece ( 10 ) for a scent-based taste drinking system comprises a base portion ( 12 ) connectable to a storage container for drinking liquid which comprises a base surface ( 14 ), and a suction port ( 22 ) connected at its proximal end to the base surface and comprising a wall ( 48 ) surrounding a transport channel ( 28 ) for drinking liquid, a suction opening ( 24 ) at a distal end of the suction port ( 22 ), and with an aroma transport channel ( 28 ) extending through the wall ( 48 ) for transporting aroma from an air-permeable aroma container ( 50 ), connectable to the mouthpiece, to the transport channel for drinking liquid; a first motion stopper structure ( 40 ) being arranged at the outer surface of the wall ( 48 ) of the suction port ( 22 ); and at least one biasing element ( 30, 30 a , 30 b , 30 c ) arranged at the base surface ( 14 ) of the base portion ( 12 ) or arranged at the suction port ( 22 ) and configured to bias the air-permeable aroma container ( 50 ) in a distal direction away from the base portion ( 12 ) against the first motion stopper structure ( 40 ).

1 . A mouthpiece for a scent-based taste drinking system, comprising:
 a base portion ( 12 ) connectable to a storage container ( 60 ) for drinking liquid which comprises a base surface ( 14 ); and   a suction port ( 22 ) connected at its proximal end to the base surface ( 14 ) and comprising a wall surrounding a transport channel for drinking liquid ( 26 ), a suction opening ( 24 ) at a distal end of the suction port ( 22 ), and an aroma transport channel ( 28 ) extending through the wall for transporting aroma from an air-permeable aroma container ( 50 ), connectable to the mouthpiece ( 10 ), to the transport channel for drinking liquid ( 26 );   a first motion stopper structure ( 40 ), preferably a convex shaped structure, the first motion stopper structure ( 40 ) being arranged at the outer surface of the wall of the suction port ( 22 ); and   at least one biasing element ( 30 ) arranged at the base surface ( 14 ) of the base portion ( 12 ) or arranged at the suction port ( 22 ), and configured to bias an object, preferably the air-permeable aroma container ( 50 ) connectable to the mouthpiece, in a distal direction away from the base portion ( 12 ) and towards and/or against the first motion stopper structure ( 40 ).   
     
     
         2 . The mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one biasing element ( 30 ) is arranged on the base surface ( 14 ) or suction port ( 22 ) at or proximal to an angular position of the suction port ( 22 ) at which the aroma transport channel ( 28 ) is provided. 
     
     
         3 . The mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , wherein the base surface ( 13 ) or suction port ( 22 ) is without any biasing element ( 30 ) located at or proximal to the wall of the suction port ( 22 ) substantially circumferentially opposite to the position of the aroma transport channel ( 28 ). 
     
     
         4 . The mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second motion stopper structure ( 42 ) arranged at the outer surface of the wall of the suction port ( 22 ) and arranged in the distal direction relative to the first motion stopper structure ( 40 ), preferably wherein the second motion stopper structure ( 42 ) is integrally formed with the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         5 . The mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 the at least one biasing element ( 30 ) and/or the first motion stopper structure ( 40 ) are integrally formed with the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         6 . The mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 the at least one biasing element ( 30 ) is a convex element extending from the base surface ( 14 ), preferably a rounded dome.   
     
     
         7 . The mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 the at least one biasing element ( 30 ) is substantially hollow to allow the escape of air under a compressive force acting on the at least one biasing element ( 30 ).   
     
     
         8 . The mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 a plurality of biasing elements ( 30 ) are provided which are, preferably equidistantly, arranged on the base surface ( 14 ) of the mouthpiece or around the suction port ( 22 ), further preferably wherein there are three biasing elements ( 30 ) equidistantly arranged.   
     
     
         9 . The mouthpiece according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the at least one biasing element ( 30 ) is at least one electronically activated actuator, preferably   wherein the at least one electronically activated actuator is activated by means of a user operated activation element, further preferably by a switch or button positioned on the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         10 . System of a mouthpiece and an aroma container, comprising:
 an air permeable aroma container ( 50 ) which comprises an outlet opening ( 74 ) for aromatized air to exit the aroma container; and   the mouthpiece ( 10 ) according to  any of the preceding claims .   
     
     
         11 . System according to  claim 10 , wherein the aroma container (50)is configured to be attachable to the suction port ( 22 ) of the mouthpiece ( 10 ) such that it is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the suction port ( 22 ) between an initial position at or proximal to the base surface ( 14 ) of the mouthpiece wherein the outlet opening ( 74 ) is out of alignment with the aroma transport channel ( 28 ) and an operating position in abutment with the first motion stopper structure wherein the outlet opening ( 74 ) is in alignment with the aroma transport channel ( 28 ); and
 wherein the at least one biasing element ( 30 ) is configured to bias the aroma container ( 50 ) from the initial position into the operating position.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the aroma container ( 50 ) and the first motion stopper structure ( 40 ) are shaped such that by manual operation the aroma container ( 50 ) can be further moved in a distal direction beyond the operating position in contact with the first motion stopper structure ( 40 ) and into abutment of a second motion stopper structure ( 42 ) into a stand-by position, in which the outlet opening ( 74 ) for aromatized air is not in alignment with the aroma transport channel ( 28 ), and in which the outlet opening ( 74 ) for aromatized air is preferably obstructed by an outer wall of the suction port ( 22 ). 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the aroma container comprises an air inlet opening ( 68 ) arranged in a bottom part ( 72 ) of its enclosure; wherein the at least one biasing element ( 30 ) is arranged on the mouthpiece such that the air inlet opening ( 68 ) in the operating position is not obstructed by the at least one biasing element ( 30 ). 
     
     
         14 . Scent-based taste drinking device, comprising:
 a storage container ( 50 ) for drinking liquid with a filling opening ( 78 ); and   the system of a mouthpiece and an aroma container according to any of the claims  10  to  13 , and preferably a straw in fluid communication with the transport channel for drinking liquid ( 26 ) of the mouthpiece, wherein   the mouthpiece ( 10 ) is attachable to the filling opening ( 78 ) of the storage container ( 60 ).   
     
     
         15 . The scent-based taste drinking device according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a lid ( 70 ) attachable to the storage container ( 60 ), preferably by screwing on the lid ( 70 ) onto a thread ( 90 ) provided on the outer circumference of a cylindrical sidewall ( 80 ) close to the filling opening ( 78 ); wherein   the lid ( 70 ) is configured to shift the aroma container ( 50 ) during the attachment of the lid ( 70 ) to the storage container ( 60 ) against the biasing force of the at least one biasing element ( 30 ) from its operating position, or optionally stand-by position, into its initial position.